Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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DESCRIPTION of the invention having the title:
Composition containing a mucolytic agent for the treatment of mucus
hypersecretion and a device
for the dosing thereof
The present invention regards a composition in powder form (dry powder) for
oral inhalation, preferably for
oral aspiration, comprising a mucolytic agent, preferably N-acetylcysteine.
Furthermore, the present
invention regards said composition for use in a method for the treatment of a
mucus hypersecretion (or
bronchial mucus) and of diseases, symptoms or disorders associated with it in
a needy subject. Lastly, the
present invention regards a dispensing device for the administration, through
inhalation route by means of
oral aspiration, of said composition in form of dry powder to said needy
subject.
The respiratory tracts and the lungs (respiratory system) are affected by
serious diseases caused by
bacteria, viruses and toxic substances that can easily penetrate into the
respiratory system along with the
inspired air. Inflammations, infections or allergies of the respiratory system
are generally associated with a
mucus hypersecretion. In physiological situations the mucus of the respiratory
system (or bronchial
mucus), a fluid and stringy substance, serves for moistening the respiratory
tract and for trapping any
possible foreign particles and microorganisms. In case of inflammations or
infection or allergy of the
respiratory system, the production of mucus increases starting off a mucus
hypersecretion (or formation of
phlegm) with increased consistency (viscosity). Said mucus hypersecretion has
the purpose of capturing
and eliminating, by coughing, the pathogen microorganisms that triggered the
aforementioned
inflammation or infection or allergy.
The alterations of production of mucus and the mucociliary clearance are
generally treated using
mucolytic/mucoregulatory drugs and with expectorant drugs.
Mucolytic/mucoregulatory drugs act on
mucus hypersecretion and on the characteristics of the mucus produced and they
are used as
symptomatic and adjuvant drugs when treating inflammatory diseases, infections
or allergies regarding the
respiratory tract. Mucolytic/mucoregulatory agents are capable of modifying
the chemical/physical
properties of the bronchial secretions facilitating the expectoration thereof
and reducing the production
thereof. Given that the hyperproduction of mucus and the modification of the
characteristics thereof (e.g.
Increased viscosity) can generate symptoms of the obstructive type, which
force the system to utilise the
cough reflex to clear the airways, the drugs active on the mucosal secretion
take an active part in
controlling the cough too.
There are two types of mucolytic/mucoregulatory drugs, depending on their
action mechanism:
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- direct
action, or fluidifying mucolytic/mucoregulatory drugs which are drugs capable
of
acting on the mucus already formed or present in the respiratory tracts, for
example compounds that split
the mucus polymers (e.g. N-acetylcysteine);
- indirect
action mucolytic/mucoregulatory drugs, capable of acting on the production of
mucus by the mucus-secretory cells. These modify the secretion and
characteristics of the mucus (e.g.
sobrerol and carbocisteine) or the adhesiveness of the mucus (e.g. ambroxol
and bromhexine).
Drugs and other remedies currently available in the market for the treatment
of mucus hypersecretion and
diseases, symptoms or disorders associated with them are often ineffective or
only partially effective.
Furthermore, some of the prior art products may cause adverse effects such as
taste disorders, intestinal
disorders, nausea, dyspepsia, vomit, dry mouth, abdominal pain, at times
urticaria, skin rash, erythema,
dermatitis, vertigo, dyspnoea, angioedema.
Furthermore, most of the drugs and other remedies currently available on the
market for the treatment of
mucus hypersecretion are in form of solutions or suspensions. When said
solutions or suspensions are to
be administered to the lungs through inhalation, this occurs using nebulisers.
These devices dispense
solutions and suspensions in form of thin spray and they generally have a face
mask attached, so that the
subject can inhale the thin spray through the mouth or nose. However,
nebulisers tend to be large and
generally non-portable devices, hence inappropriate for an easy and convenient
administration of a
medicinal product, like in the case of the present invention.
A further problem associated with the use of nebulisers lies in the difficulty
of obtaining accurate
information on the dose actually dispensed to the subject. There is also a
general lack of precision,
reproducibility and efficiency when it comes to administering the medicinal
product, which leads to the
need to increase the administered dose so as to guarantee the achievement of
the desired therapeutic
effect, with ensuing waste of the drug and higher risk of adverse effects.
When said drugs are in form of thin powder for inhalation administration, they
must be administered using
a dispensing device. The dispensing devices currently available on the market
do not always guarantee an
effective administration of the drug and they are often difficult to handle
and activate.
In addition, it is known that delivery of compositions in form of dry powder
to the respiratory tract reveals
some drawbacks. The inhaler device should provide the maximum possible
proportion of the active
particles ejected into the lungs, including a significant proportion in the
deepest part of the lungs. Thus, dry
powder compositions capable of increasing the proportion of the active
particles that are delivered to the
lower respiratory tract or to the deep part of the lungs.
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The type of dry powder inhaler used will impact the efficiency of release of
the active particles to the
respiratory tract. Furthermore, the chemical/physical properties of the powder
affect both the efficiency
and the reproducibility of the release of active particles and on the
deposition site in the respiratory tract.
Thus, there is high demand from the society for appropriate treatments of
mucus hypersecretion (or
bronchial mucus) and of diseases, symptoms or disorders associated with them.
The technical problem addressed and solved by the present invention lies in
providing a valid solution for
the effective therapeutic and non-therapeutic treatment of mucus
hypersecretions and of diseases,
symptoms and/or disorders associated with said mucus hypersecretions capable
of overcoming the
currently unresolved drawbacks of the prior art, in particular, as regards the
ineffectiveness and/or
presence of adverse effects and/or administration challenges.
Furthermore, the technical problem addressed and solved by the present
invention lies in providing new
compositions, comprising - as active agent - a mucolytic agent in form of dry
powder, suitable for
inhalation administration having a good flowability, a good uniformity of
distribution of the active agent, an
appropriate chemical and physical stability prior to use and that do not tend
to agglomerate, hence, that
are easy to handle and administer.
In addition, the technical problem addressed and solved by the present
invention lies in providing both
new compositions in form of dry powder and a device for the inhalation
administration thereof capable of
creating a good breathable fraction and providing an accurate therapeutically
active dose of the active
ingredient.
In order to overcome these technical problems, the present invention provides
a composition in form of
powder, preferably dry powder, suitable for inhalation administration by means
oral aspiration comprising
a mucolytic agent (active agent), preferably N-acetylcysteine, and optionally
other components (first and/or
second support agent) which facilitate the administration of said composition
in form of powder, preferably
dry powder, through inhalation route by means of oral aspiration. Such
composition is capable of
effectively and quickly treating mucus hypersecretion and diseases, symptoms
or disorders associated
with said mucus hypersecretion, both in pathological subjects and healthy
subjects (not yet defined
pathological). In addition, said composition is without the adverse effects
present in the treatments of the
prior art, it is easy to administer through the inhalation route, it is easy
to prepare and it is cost-effective.
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Furthermore, the present invention provides a device for administering the
composition according to the
invention in form of powder for inhalation, preferably inhalation actuated
through oral aspiration, that is
easy to use, that allows to improve the adherence of the subject to the
therapy, and having optimal
capacity for administration of the composition of the invention and, thus, of
the active ingredient comprised
therein.
These and other objects, which will be clear from the detailed description
that follows, are attained by the
composition of the present invention due to the technical characteristics
claimed in the attached claims.
Following an intensive research and development, the Applicant found out that
the administration -
through inhalation route by means of oral aspiration - of the composition
according to the present invention
is capable of effectively and quickly treating mucus hypersecretion and
diseases, symptoms and/or
disorders associated with said mucus hypersecretion.
Furthermore, following an intensive research and development, the Applicant
found out that the use of a
dispensing device of the invention for the administration - through oral
inhalation, preferably by means of
oral aspiration - of the composition of the invention in powder form improves
the administration of the
composition of the invention and, thus, of the active ingredient comprised
therein.
Furthermore, said device is easy to use, hence, it improves the adherence of
the subject to the therapy.
Said therapeutic or non-therapeutic pharmacological treatment activity of the
composition is due to the
mucolytic present in the composition, such as for example N-acetylcysteine,
the additional components, if
present in the composition besides the mucolytic, which allow to obtain an
optimal powder for the
administration thereof through the inhalation route and the dispensing device
by means of which the
composition of the invention in powder form is administered in the respiratory
system through oral
aspiration.
FIGURES
Figure 1: chart representing the average viscosity values of mucus collected
from subjects suffering from
cystic fibrosis before and after the treatment of the mucus using saline
solution or using the Compositions
1-4 according to the invention (ETA: average viscosity value measured at 37 C
in mPa.$).
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Figure 2: chart representing the average viscosity values of mucus collected
from subjects suffering from
cystic fibrosis before and after the treatment of the mucus using saline
solution or using the Compositions
5-12 according to the invention (ETA: average viscosity value measured at 37 C
in mPa.$).
Figure 3: single-dose refillable device of the invention.
Figure 4: single-dose refillable device of the invention, wherein the loader
is in form of capsule.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Forming an object of the present invention is a composition in form of powder
(dry powder) suitable for
administration through oral inhalation (in short composition of the invention
or composition) comprising (i)
a mixture M (in short mixture of the invention or mixture) comprising, or
alternatively, consisting of a
mucolytic agent (active ingredient of the composition of the invention) and,
optionally, (ii) at least one
acceptable pharmaceutical or food grade additive and/or excipient.
In a preferred embodiment, said mucolytic agent is N-acetylcysteine or an
acceptable pharmaceutical or
food grade salt thereof, for example the L-lysine salt of N-acetylcysteine
(NAL).
N-acetylcysteine (IUPAC name 2R-acetamido-3-sulfanylpropanoic acid, CAS 616-91-
1) is a derivative of
N-acetylate of the cysteine amino acid which has an antioxidant and mucolytic
activity. Antioxidants are
substances that slow or prevent the oxidation of other substances. Mucolytics
are substances that make
the mucus secreted by the respiratory system more fluid and facilitate the
work of ejecting the mucus by
the bronchi and trachea. It is known that the major determinants of viscosity
and elasticity of the secretions
of the respiratory system are fucomucins and IgG immunoglobulins. N-
acetylcysteine, in particular, is
characterised by the capacity to split the sulphur bridges in proteins: in the
case of mucus, N-
acetylcysteine depolymerises the mucoprotein complexes (glycoprotein
agglomerates) into smaller units,
provided with lower viscosity, and it exercises an important mucolytic and
fluidifying effect on the mucosal
and mucopurulent secretions effect.
In an embodiment, said (i) mixture M comprises, besides the mucolytic agent,
preferably N-acetylcysteine
or an acceptable pharmaceutical or food grade salt thereof (e.g. NAL), also a
first support agent selected
from among the group comprising or, alternatively, consisting of lactose, a
dextran, mannitol and the
mixtures thereof; more preferably lactose.
Preferably, said (i) mixture M comprises N-acetylcysteine and lactose.
Lactose (IUPAC name 3-D-galactopyranosyl (1¨>4) D-glucopyranose, CAS 63-42-3)
is a disaccharide and
a dextrorotatory reducing sugar. The lactose molecule consists of a D-
galactose and of a D-glucose
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molecule linked by a glyosidic bond (acetalic) 6(1-4). The aldehyde group of
the glucose unit is
responsible for the reducing properties of lactose. Lactose is added to the
inhalation powders of the
present invention to improve the efficiency at which the blister empties after
respiratory activation, the
turbulence and the dispersion of the drug in the small airways. The lactose
particles have a particle
diameter (> 50 pm) such that they cannot penetrate into the deep parts of the
respiratory system, hence,
most of the lactose settles in the oropharynx before moving on to the stomach
after being swallowed.
In an embodiment, said (i) mixture M comprises, besides the mucolytic agent,
preferably N-acetylcysteine
or a salt thereof, and, optionally, said first support agent selected from
among the group comprising or,
alternatively, consisting of lactose, a dextran, mannitol and the mixtures
thereof, also a second support
agent, wherein said second agent is a stearate metal or a derivative thereof
selected from among the
group comprising or, alternatively, consisting of: magnesium stearate, zinc
stearate, calcium stearate,
sodium stearate, lithium stearate, sodium stearyl fumarate, sodium stearoyl
lactylate and the mixtures
thereof; more preferably magnesium stearate.
Thus, the (i) mixture M may comprise said second support agent as an
alternative to said first support
agent or in presence of said first support agent.
In an embodiment, said (i) mixture M comprises, besides the mucolytic agent,
preferably N-acetylcysteine
or an acceptable pharmaceutical or food grade salt thereof, and lactose, also
magnesium stearate.
Preferably, said (i) mixture M comprises N-acetylcysteine, lactose and
magnesium stearate.
Alternatively, said (i) mixture M comprises N-acetylcysteine and magnesium
stearate, in absence of
lactose.
Magnesium stearate (IUPAC name magnesium octadecanoate, CAS 557-04-0) is used
in the
pharmaceutical industry as a lubricant in the preparation solid of
compositions, preferably tablets, for
facilitating the detachment between the powder or granulate and the metallic
walls of the processing
equipment.
In a preferred embodiment, said (i) mixture M comprises, besides the mucolytic
agent, preferably N-
acetylcysteine or a salt thereof, also a hyaluronic acid or an acceptable
pharmaceutical or food grade salt
thereof.
In an embodiment, said (i) mixture M comprises said mucolytic agent,
preferably N-acetylcysteine or a salt
thereof, hyaluronic acid or a salt thereof and said first support agent,
preferably lactose.
In an embodiment, said (i) mixture M comprises said mucolytic agent,
preferably N-acetylcysteine or a salt
thereof, hyaluronic acid or a salt thereof and said second support agent,
preferably magnesium stearate.
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In an embodiment, said (i) mixture M comprises said mucolytic agent,
preferably N-acetylcysteine or a salt
thereof, hyaluronic acid or a salt thereof and said first support agent,
preferably lactose, and said second
support agent, preferably magnesium stearate.
In a preferred embodiment, said (i) mixture M comprises, besides the mucolytic
agent, preferably N-
acetylcysteine or an acceptable pharmaceutical or food grade salt thereof,
lactose and/or magnesium
stearate, also a hyaluronic acid or an acceptable pharmaceutical or food grade
salt thereof.
The presence of hyaluronic acid in the composition of the invention combined
with said mucolytic agent,
preferably N-acetylcysteine, boosts the mucolytic effectiveness of the
mucolytic agent (reduction of mucus
viscosity and ease of expectoration/elimination of the mucus for the subject
suffering from mucus
hyperproduction). Thus, in the compositions of the invention it is possible to
use a low % of mucolytic
agent, preferably N-acetylcysteine.
In the context of the present invention, the expression hyaluronic acid salt
is preferably used to indicate a
salt of an alkaline metal or of an alkaline earth metal, such as for example
sodium, potassium, magnesium
or calcium; preferably the hyaluronic acid salt is the sodium salt (sodium
hyaluronate).
Hyaluronic acid (CAS 9004-61-9) is a non-sulfated glycosaminoglycan and
without protein core.
Hyaluronic acid and the salts thereof are macromolecules. In particular,
hyaluronic acid or the salt thereof,
preferably sodium hyaluronate, in the context of the present invention
preferably has an average
molecular weight comprised between 20 kDa and 4000 kDa, preferably comprised
between 50 kDa and
1500 kDa, even more preferably comprised between 150 kDa and 1000 kDa.
In an embodiment, the composition of the invention comprises said (i) mixture
M comprising, or
alternatively, consisting of: a concentration (%) by weight of the mucolytic
agent, preferably N-
acetylcysteine or a salt thereof, comprised in the range between 50% and 95%
with respect to the total
weight of the mixture M, preferably between 55% and 90%, more preferably
between 60% and 85%; and,
if present, a concentration (%) by weight of lactose, comprised in the range
between 5% (or 4,9% if
present magnesium stearate) and 40% with respect to the total weight of the
mixture M, preferably
between 10 % and 35 %, more preferably between 15% and 30%; and, if present, a
concentration (%)by
weight of magnesium stearate, comprised in the range between 0.1% and 20% with
respect to the total
weight of the mixture M, preferably between 0.5% and 15%, more preferably
between 1% and 10%.
In an alternative embodiment, the composition of the invention comprises said
(i) mixture M comprising, or
alternatively, consisting of: a % by weight of N-acetylcysteine (present as
such or in form of salt)
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comprised in the range between 0.1% and 60% with respect to the total weight
of the mixture M,
preferably between 5% and 50%, more preferably between 10% and 40%.
In an alternative embodiment, the composition of the invention comprises said
(i) mixture M comprising, or
alternatively, consisting of: a % by weight of N-acetylcysteine (present as
such or in form of salt)
comprised in the range between 0.1% and 60% with respect to the total weight
of the mixture M,
preferably between 5% and 50%, more preferably between 10% and 40%; and a % by
weight of
hyaluronic acid (present as such or in form of salt) comprised in the range
between 40% and 90% with
respect to the total weight of the mixture M, preferably between 50% and 80%,
more preferably between
60% and 80%.
In a further preferred embodiment, the composition of the invention comprises
said (i) mixture M
comprising, or alternatively, consisting of: a % by weight of N-acetylcysteine
(present as such or in form of
salt) comprised in the range between 0.1% and 58% with respect to the total
weight of the mixture M,
preferably between 5% and 50%, more preferably between 10% and 40%; and a % by
weight of
hyaluronic acid (present as such or in form of salt) comprised in the range
between 40% and 90% with
respect to the total weight of the mixture M, preferably between 50% and 80%,
more preferably between
60% and 80%; and, if present, a % by weight of a first support agent,
preferably lactose, or of a second
support agent, preferably magnesium stearate, comprised in the range between
2% and 35% with respect
to the total weight of the mixture M, preferably between 10% and 30%, more
preferably between 15% and
25%.
In a further preferred embodiment, the composition of the invention comprises
said (i) mixture M
comprising, or alternatively, consisting of: a % by weight of N-acetylcysteine
(present as such or in form of
salt) comprised in the range between 0.1% and 50% with respect to the total
weight of the mixture M,
preferably between 5% and 50%, more preferably between 10% and 40%; and a % by
weight of
hyaluronic acid (present as such or in form of salt) comprised in the range
between 40% and 90% with
respect to the total weight of the mixture M, preferably between 50% and 80%,
more preferably between
60% and 80%; and, if present, a % by weight of a first support agent,
preferably lactose, and of a second
support agent, preferably magnesium stearate, comprised in the range between
10% and 40% with
respect to the total weight of the mixture M, preferably between 15% and 35%,
more preferably between
20% and 30%.
Examples of % by weight of the mixture M of the invention are indicated in
Table 1 and Table 4.
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The composition of the invention is in form of powder, preferably a dry powder
having said composition in
form of powder, preferably dry powder, a particle size diameter (average
particle diameter) such to make
the composition suitable to be administered through oral inhalation route.
Preferably, the composition of
the invention in powder form (dry powder) has a particle size diameter
(average particle diameter)
comprised in the range between 1 pm and 200 pm, preferably between 1 pm and
100 pm, more preferably
between 1 pm and 50 pm.
In a preferred embodiment, the composition of the invention in powder form
comprising NAG and,
optionally, said first support agent and second support agent and/or
hyaluronic acid, or the salts thereof,
the average particle diameter comprised in the range between 0.1 pm and 10 pm,
preferably between 0,5
pm and 5 pm, more preferably between 1 pm and 5 pm.
In the context of the present invention, the expression "average particle
diameter refers to the size of a
particle comprising all components of the composition, for example, depending
on the embodiment, of a
particle comprising NAG or NAG and HA or NAG and HA and lactose or NAG and HA
and magnesium
stearate.
The powder particles may mainly be classified into inhalable and breathable.
The inhalable fraction is
represented by a suspension of particles of various diameters (generally
comprised between 10 microns
and 100 microns) whose dimensions are such to determine the interaction with
the human respiratory
system.
The inhalable fraction is represented by a suspension of particles with grain
size class (generally< 4
microns) such to reach, due to the breathing motions, the non-ciliated part of
the lung (alveolar area).
In the context of the present invention, the expression "dry powder" is used
to indicate a powder having a
low moisture content (water), for example a powder having a content comprised
in the range between
0.01% and 10% by weight with respect to the total weight of the powder,
preferably between 0.1% and
5%, more preferably between 0.1% and 3%.
The composition of the present invention, optionally in addition to said first
support agent, preferably
lactose, and, if present, to said second support agent, preferably magnesium
stearate, and/or hyaluronic
acid or a salt thereof, further (ii) pharmaceutical or food grade additives
and/or excipients, i.e. a substance
without therapeutic activity suitable for pharmaceutical or food use. In the
context of the present invention
the acceptable ingredients for pharmaceutical or food use comprise all
auxiliary substances known to the
man skilled in the art such as, by way of non-limiting example, diluents,
solvents (including water,
glycerine, ethyl alcohol), solubilisers, thickeners, sweeteners, flavourings,
dyes, lubricants, surfactants,
antimicrobials, antioxidants, preservatives, pH stabilisation buffers and the
mixtures thereof.
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The composition according to the present invention, besides the components of
the (i) mixture M
mentioned above (such as a mucolytic agent (NAG or a salt thereof) and,
optionally, a first and a second
support agent and/or a hyaluronic acid or a salt thereof) and, optionally,
further (ii) additives and/or
excipients, may also comprise further active ingredients such as, by way or
non-limiting example, anti-
inflammatories, antioxidants, antibacterial agents, disinfectants,
vasoconstrictors, probiotics, extracts of
medicinal plants, vitamins, mineral salts, further mucolytics and generally
products for the treatment of
inflammations or infections or allergies of the respiratory system.
In a preferred embodiment, the composition of the invention is prepared using
the method for the
mechanical mixing of the single components.
In an alternative embodiment, the composition of the invention is prepared
using the spray-drying method.
The composition of the invention may be a pharmaceutical composition,
nutraceutical composition, dietary
supplement product or food for special medical purposes or a medical device
composition.
The expression "medical device" in the context of the present invention is
used according to the meaning
laid down by the Italian Legislative Decree n 46, dated 24 February 1997 or
according to the new Medical
Devices Regulation (UE) 2017/745 (MDR), i.e. it indicates a substance or
another product, used alone or
in combination, designated by the manufacturer to be used in humans for the
diagnosis, prevention,
control, therapy or attenuation of a disease, the product not exercising the
main action, in or on the human
body, for which it is designated, neither using pharmacological or immunology
means nor by means of a
metabolic process but the function thereof can be coadjuvated by such means.
Forming an object of the present invention is the composition of the invention
as defined above (such as,
comprising a mucolytic agent, preferably N-acetylcysteine or a salt thereof,
and, optionally, a first and/or
second support agent, such as lactose and magnesium stearate, and/or
hyaluronic acid or a salt thereof)
for use as medicament.
Furthermore, forming an object of the present invention is the composition of
the invention as defined
above (such as, comprising a mucolytic agent, preferably N-acetylcysteine or a
salt thereof, and,
optionally, a first and/or second support agent, such as lactose and magnesium
stearate, and/or
hyaluronic acid or a salt thereof) for use in a method for the preventive
and/or curative treatment of a
mucus hypersecretion and of a disease, symptom and/or disorder associated with
said mucus
hypersecretion, in a needy subject, preferably wherein said composition for
use is administered through
oral inhalation activated by an aspiration action by the subject.
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In an embodiment, the composition of the invention is for use in a method for
the treatment of
inflammations or infections or allergies of the respiratory system associated
with a mucus hypersecretion.
Preferably, said inflammations or infections or allergies of the respiratory
system are selected from among
the group comprising or, alternatively, consisting of: asthma, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease
(CORD), bronchitis, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, pertussis, pneumonia,
pleuritis, bronchiolitis, cold,
sinusitis, rhinitis, tracheitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, epiglottitis and
bronchiectasis.
Furthermore, forming an object of the present invention is a dispensing device
(in short device of the
invention or, simply, device) for the administration - through oral inhalation
route - of the composition of the
invention in powder form, preferably dry powder, to a needy subject, wherein
said device releases an
effective dose (predetermined effective dose) of the composition of the
invention when actuated by the
subject through oral aspiration (in short device of the invention or
dispensing device of the invention).
The dispensing device of the invention is a state-of-the-art inhaler, without
propellant, which releases an
effective dose of the composition of the invention when actuated by the
subject through oral aspiration.
In the context of the present invention, the expression "oral aspiration" or
"oral aspiration action" is used to
indicate that the subject inhales or exhales using the mouth in a single
action (one-time aspiration action)
at a force intensity such to allow the device of the invention to dispense a
predetermined dose of the
composition of the invention in powder form in the dispensing device in
question.
Said predetermined dose of the composition of the invention that can be
dispensed by the device of the
invention by means of the oral aspiration action by the subject may vary
according to the variation of the
age of the subject, the physical size of the subject (number of Kg) and the
type of disease or disorder
being treated.
Preferably, the device of the invention allows, by means of only one oral
aspiration action, the dispensing
of a dose of composition of the invention in dry powder form comprised in the
range between 10 mg and
70 mg, preferably between 20 mg and 50 mg, more preferably between 35 mg and
40 mg.
Alternatively, said dose of composition of the invention in dry powder form
comprised in the range
between 10 mg and 70 mg, preferably between 20 mg a 50 mg, more preferably
between 35 mg and 40
mg, may be dispensed by the device of the invention by means of an n number of
oral aspirations ,
wherein n is a number variable between 2 and 4, preferably 2.
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Furthermore, with the aim of reaching the daily intake of the composition of
the invention required for said
subject, the administration of said predetermined dose, dispensed by the
device of the invention through
one or more oral aspiration actions of the subject, can be carried out only 1
time per day or repeated 2 or
3 or 4 or 5 or 6 times per day.
The dispensing device of the invention can be of the disposable or refillable
type. In a preferred
embodiment, the device of the invention is refillable with the possibility of
having single-dose or multi-dose.
The dispensing device of the invention, when refillable, can be of the single-
dose or multi-dose type; when
the dispensing device is of the multi-dose type it may contain a dosing
indicator. In a preferred
embodiment, the dispensing device of the invention is of the disposable single-
dose type.
The dispensing device of the invention for the administration of a dry powder
through the oral-inhalation
route, wherein said device comprises:
- a compartment for containing the powder comprising the composition in
form of dry powder according to
any one of the embodiments of the invention;
- an aspiration channel, wherein a first end is directly or indirectly
connected to the powder containment
compartment and a second end allows the subject to carry out the oral
aspiration action; and, optionally,
- a compartment for containing the loader, wherein said loader, single-dose
or multi-dose, contains the
composition of the invention in powder form;
and wherein said dispensing device of the invention is structured so as to
dispense a dose of said
composition following an oral aspiration action by the subject in need of said
administration.
When the device of the invention is refillable, the composition of the
invention is loaded into the powder
containment compartment using said loader comprising the composition of the
invention; said loader can
be a single-dose loader (for example a capsule or a sachet) or a multi-dose
loader, preferably a single-
dose loader. Furthermore, the loader may be inside the device of the invention
(internal loader) or outside
the device of the invention (external loader).
In an embodiment of the refillable device, said loader is an external loader
not housed in the device and
the device is structured so as to allow the direct transfer of a single-dose
of said composition from the
external loader (single-dose or multi-dose) to the powder containment
compartment (direct loading
refillable device). For example, said single-dose external loader is a sachet
containing the composition of
the invention in dry powder form.
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In an alternative embodiment of the refillable device, said loader is an
internal loader housed in the device
in a loader containment compartment and the device is structured so as to
allow the indirect transfer of a
single-dose of said composition from the internal loader (single-dose or multi-
dose) to the powder
containment compartment by actuating a pressure on the device which causes the
opening of the internal
loader (indirect loading refillable device) or, alternatively, by actuating a
pressure on the internal loader.
For example, said single-dose internal loader is a capsule containing the
composition of the invention in
dry powder form, for example, a capsule made of flexible material, such as an
aluminium capsule.
The expression "single-dose" "refillable" dispensing device is used in the
context of the present invention
to indicate that a single-dose of the composition of the invention is
contained in a single-dose container
separated or separable from the dispensing device (for example a sachet or a
capsule). Said single-dose
of the composition of the invention is transferred from the single-dose
container in the dispensing device in
the powder containment compartment and, lastly, said single-dose of the
composition of the invention is
dispensed by the dispensing device to the subject through oral aspiration by
the subject (for example by
means of one or more aspiration actions). The advantage of the "single-dose"
dispensing device lies in the
fact that the subject does not risk taking more than one dose, thus
guaranteeing maximum safety.
The expression "multi-dose" "refillable" dispensing device is used in the
context of the present invention to
indicate that a multi dose of the composition of the invention in powder form
is contained in a multi-dose
container separated or separable from the dispensing device. Such multi-dose
container, containing a
defined number of doses of the composition of the invention, is inserted into
the dispensing device of the
invention (in the loader containment compartment) before the dispensing of
said defined number of doses.
Subsequently, a single-dose of the composition of the invention is transferred
from said multi-dose
container into the dispensing device in the powder containment compartment,
for example by means of
pressure on the device or on the multi-dose container inserted into the device
by a subject (for example
pressure exerted by the hand of the subject on a part of the device or on the
multi-dose container to load
the single-dose of composition to be dispensed into the special powder
containment compartment; indirect
multi-dose refillable dispensing device). Lastly, the single-dose of the
composition of the invention loaded
into the dispensing device (in the loader containment compartment) is
dispensed by the dispensing device
to the subject through oral aspiration by the subject (for example by means of
one or more aspiration
actions).
The dispensing device of the invention, when of the single-dose refillable
type, can be of the "direct
loading" type (with external loader) or of the "indirect loading type" (with
internal loader).
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In an embodiment, the dispensing device of the invention is of the indirect
loading single-dose refillable
type in that the powder (dry powder) is contained in the device (internal
container) and it is released into
the dispensing device (in the powder containment compartment) upon pressing by
the subject.
In an alternative embodiment, the dispensing device of the invention is of the
direct loading single-dose
refillable type.
The expression "direct loading" "single-dose" "refillable" device is used in
the context of the present
invention to indicate that the single-dose of the composition of the invention
is contained in a single-dose
container separated from the device (external container), for example a
sachet. The single-dose of the
composition of the invention is directly transferred from the single-dose
container to the dispensing device
of the invention (in the powder containment compartment) before dispensing,
for example by means of the
opening of the single-dose container (e.g. a sachet) by a subject and direct
transfer of the composition of
the invention in powder form from the single-dose container to the dispensing
device, more precisely to
the powder containment compartment. Lastly, the composition of the invention
is dispensed by the
dispensing device to the subject through oral aspiration by the subject (for
example by means of one or
more aspiration actions).
The expression "indirect loading" "single-dose" "refillable" device is used in
the context of the present
invention to indicate that the single-dose of the composition of the invention
is contained in a single-dose
container separated from the device, for example a capsule. Such container
containing the composition of
the invention is inserted into the dispensing device (in the loader
containment compartment) before
dispensing. An opening is subsequently created in said single-dose container,
for example by exerting
pressure on the dispensing device by a subject, so that the composition is
released into the dispensing
device, more precisely into the powder containment compartment. Lastly, the
single-dose of the
composition of the invention is dispensed by the dispensing device to the
subject through oral aspiration
by the subject (for example by means of one or more aspiration actions).
The dispensing device of the invention allows the dispensing of the
composition of the invention in form of
a powder cloud which is durable over time and guarantees a more effective
inhalation as well as a uniform
and optimal distribution of the active ingredient or active ingredients
comprised in the composition in the
respiratory system, leading to benefits in terms of therapeutic results.
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Forming an object of the present invention is a method for the treatment of
mucus hypersecretion and a
disorder associated with said mucus hypersecretion, such as an inflammation or
infection or allergy of the
respiratory system, in a needy subject, wherein said treatment method provides
for the administration of
the composition of the invention as defined above through the inhalation route
by means of oral aspiration
by the subject using the dispensing device of the present invention.
Forming an object of the present invention is the non-therapeutic use of the
composition of the invention
as defined above for the non-therapeutic treatment of a mucus hypersecretion
and of a disorder
associated with said mucus hypersecretion in a needy subject, wherein said non-
therapeutic use provides
for the administration of said composition through the inhalation route by
means of oral aspiration using
the dispensing device of the present invention.
In a preferred embodiment, the non-therapeutic use of the composition
according to the invention is for the
non-therapeutic treatment of a disorder associated with said mucus
hypersecretion such as an
inflammation or infection or allergy of the respiratory system.
Preferably, said inflammation or infection or allergy of the respiratory
system is selected from among the
group comprising or, alternatively, consisting of: asthma, chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (CORD),
bronchitis, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, pertussis, pneumonia, pleuritis,
bronchiolitis, cold, sinusitis, rhinitis,
tracheitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, epiglottitis and bronchiectasis.
Furthermore, forming an object of the present invention is the use of said
dispensing device (in short
device of the invention of, simply, device) for the administration - through
oral inhalation route - of the
composition of the invention in powder form, preferably dry powder, to a needy
subject, wherein said
device releases an effective dose (predetermined effective dose) of the
composition of the invention when
actuated by the subject through oral aspiration (in short device of the
invention or dispensing device of the
invention).
Lastly, forming an object of the present invention is a kit comprising (a) the
composition of the invention,
according to any one of the embodiments of the invention, (b) the dispensing
device according to the
invention for administering the composition of the invention to a needy
subject; (c) instructions for
administering the composition of the invention by means of the (b) dispensing
device; and, optionally, (d)
an additional active ingredient, that can be in an intake form equal to and/or
different from the composition
of the invention.
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The expression "treatment method" in the context of the present invention is
used to indicate an action,
comprising the administration of a substance, or mixture of substances or
combination thereof, with the
aim of eliminating, reducing/decreasing or preventing a pathology or disease
and its symptoms or
disorders.
Unless specified otherwise, the indication that a composition "comprises" one
or more components or
substances means that other components or substances can be present besides
the one, or the ones,
indicated specifically.
As illustrated in the experimental part outlined below, the compositions of
the present invention comprising
N-acetylcysteine, alone or combined with hyaluronic acid and/or lactose and/or
magnesium stearate, in
powder form, preferably dry powder, for inhalation by means of oral
aspiration, are effective for the
therapeutic and non-therapeutic treatment of mucus hypersecretion (or
bronchial mucus) and of the
various diseases, symptoms or disorders of the respiratory system associated
with said bronchial mucus
hypersecretion.
In addition, the administration of the compositions of the invention by means
of the dispensing device of
the invention actuated by the aspiration of the subject undergoing the
administration is such to activate the
administration of the effective dose and the maximum inherent effectiveness of
the compositions of the
invention.
The composition of the invention, according to any one of the embodiments
defined in the present
invention, shows a good flowability, a good uniformity of distribution of the
active ingredient (mucolytic
agent, N-acetylcysteine) and an appropriate chemical and physical stability
prior to use.
Furthermore, the composition of the invention, when inhaled using the
inhalation device of the invention
actuated by means of a single aspiration action by a subject to whom the
composition is administered,
creates a good inhalable fraction and an accurate therapeutically active dose
of the active ingredient
(mucolytic agent, N-acetylcysteine or the salts thereof).
The expression "good flowability" refers to a composition that can be easily
handled during the preparation
method and it is capable of guaranteeing an accurate and reproducible
administration of the
therapeutically effective dose when administered using the device of the
invention by means of the
aspiration action of the subject. The flow characteristics can be evaluated by
measuring the Carr index; a
Carr index lower than 25 is usually used to indicate good flow
characteristics.
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The expression "distribution uniformity" refers to a composition in which,
when mixing, the uniformity of the
content of the active ingredient, expressed as the relative standard deviation
(RSD), is lower than 5%.
The expression "chemically stable" refers to a formulation that meets the ICH
Q1A guidelines referring to
"Stability testing of new active substances (and medicinal products)".
The expression "physically stable" refers to a formulation in which if several
components of the dry powder
particles of the composition of the invention are present, these components
substantially do not separate
during the method for preparing the dry powder and/or over the time comprised
between the preparation
and the use of the composition.
The tendency to separate can be evaluated according to Staniforth et al., J.
Pharm. Pharmacol., 34.700-
706, 1982, which is wholly incorporated herein for reference, and it is
considered acceptable if the
distribution of the active ingredient in the dry powder composition after the
test, expressed as the relative
standard deviation (RSD), does not change significantly with respect to that
of the composition prior to the
test.
The expression "inhalable fraction" refers to an index of the particle
percentage of active ingredient
(mucolytic agent, N-acetylcysteine or the salts thereof) which reach the lungs
(deep area) in a subject. The
inhalable fraction, also referred to as the fine particle fraction (FPF), is
evaluated using appropriate in vitro
apparatus such as Multistage Cascade Impactor or Multi Stage Liquid lmpinger
(MLSI) according to the
procedures indicated in common pharmacopeia. FPF is calculated from the ratio
between the dispensed
dose and the fine particle mass (of fine particle dose, in short FPD). An
inhalable fraction greater than 30
% is an index of good inhalation performance.
The expression "accurate therapeutically active dose of the active ingredient"
refers to a composition in
which the variation between the average dispensed daily intake and the average
emitted dose is equal to
or lower than 15%, preferably lower than 10%.
In the context of the present invention, the expressions "active agent" and
"active ingredient" are
synonyms and they refer to the mucolytic agent, preferably N-acetylcysteine
and the acceptable
pharmaceutical or food grade.
Embodiments (Frnr) of the present invention are indicated below:
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FR1. A composition in a dry powder form for oral inhalation, preferably for
oral aspiration, comprising:
(i) a mixture M comprising, or alternatively, consisting of a mucolytic agent
and, optionally,
(ii) at least one acceptable pharmaceutical or food grade additive and/or
excipient.
FR2. A composition according to FR1, wherein said mucolytic agent is N-
acetylcysteine or an acceptable
pharmaceutical or food grade salt thereof.
FR3. A composition according to FR1 or FR2, wherein said (i) mixture M further
comprises lactose.
FR4. A composition according to any one of FR1 to FR3, wherein said (i)
mixture M further comprises
magnesium stearate.
FR5. A composition according to any one of FR1 to FR4, wherein said (i)
mixture M further comprises a
hyaluronic acid or an acceptable pharmaceutical or food grade salt thereof.
FR6. The composition according to any one of FR1 to FR5 wherein the (i)
mixture M comprises or,
alternatively, consists of: a concentration by weight of the mucolytic agent,
preferably N-acetylcysteine or
a salt thereof, comprised in the range between 50% and 95% with respect to the
total weight of the
mixture M, preferably between 55% and 90%, more preferably between 60% and
85%; of a concentration
by weight of lactose, comprised in the range between 5% and 40% with respect
to the total weight of the
mixture, preferably between 10% and 35%, more preferably between 15% and 30%;
and, if present, a
concentration by weight of magnesium stearate, comprised in the range between
0.1% and 20% with
respect to the total weight of the mixture, preferably between 0.5% and 15%,
more preferably between 1%
and 10%.
FR7. The composition according to any one of FR1 to FR6, wherein said
composition is for use in a
method for the preventive and/or curative treatment of a mucus hypersecretion
and of a disease, symptom
and/or disorder associated with said mucus hypersecretion, in a needy subject.
FR8. The composition for use according to FR7, wherein said disease, symptom
and/or disorder
associated with said mucus hypersecretion is an inflammation or infection or
allergy of the respiratory
system, preferably wherein said inflammation or infection or allergy of the
respiratory system is selected
from among the group comprising or, alternatively, consisting of: asthma,
chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (CORD), bronchitis, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, pertussis, pneumonia,
pleuritis, bronchiolitis,
cold, sinusitis, rhinitis, tracheitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, epiglottitis
and bronchiectasis.
FR9. Dispensing device for the administration - through oral inhalation route -
of the composition in form of
powder according to any one of FR1 to FR6 to said needy subject, wherein said
device releases an
effective dose of said composition when actuated by the subject by means of
oral aspiration.
FR10. Kit comprising:
(a) the composition according to any one of FR1 to FR6, preferably wherein
said composition is contained
in a container;
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(B) the device according to FR9; and
(c) instructions on the method of use of said (a) composition and of said (b)
device.
FR11. Non-therapeutic use of the composition according to any one of FR1 to
FR6, wherein said use is for
the non-therapeutic treatment of a mucus hypersecretion and of a disorder
associated with said mucus
hypersecretion in a needy subject, wherein said non-therapeutic use provides
for the administration of said
composition through the inhalation route by means of oral aspiration using the
dispensing device
according to claim 9.
Experimental part
EXPERIMENTAL PART (I)
The viscosity of the mucus coming from patients suffering from cystic
fibrosis, whose mucus has
particularly altered viscoelastic characteristics, was measured with the aim
of the in vitro evaluation of the
compositions according to the present invention (Composition 1-4 having the
compositions indicated in
table 1) . Only samples of mucus with a viscosity comprised between 4.000
mPa.s. and 10.000 mPa.s.
(millipascal x second or PI: Poiseuille) measured at the temperature of 37oC,
were considered for the
purposes of the present evaluation.
The viscosity at baseline conditions (Measurement A, prior to incubation) was
measured for each mucus
sample (750 pl) Subsequently, each mucus sample was incubated at 37 C for 30
minutes respectively
with saline solution (50 pl) (Saline, used as control) and NAC (NAC in saline
solution) coming from one of
the following preparations: Composition 1 (70 pg) (NAC 71), Composition 2 (70
pg) (NAC71-FLM),
Composition 3 (70 pg) (NAC75-FL), Composition 4 (70 pg) (NAC80-FL); thus, the
viscosity measurement
was carried out on each sample (Measurement B, after incubation) (table 2 and
figure 1). Said viscosities
(Measurement A and B) were measured at 37 C and they are indicated in figure 1
as average viscosity
value (ETA) in mPa.s..
The instrument used for measuring viscosity is a concentric cylinder
rotational rheometer which applies
the sinusoidal oscillations method (Mucorheometer ESLAB, Milan), which allows
to obtain measurements
on the mucus ranging between 500 mPa.s up to 80.000 mPa.s.
Composition 1 Composition 2 Composition 3 Composition 4
NAC 71% 71% 75% 80%
L / 25% 25% 20%
M / 4% / /
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Table 1: NAG N-acetylcysteine; L lactose; M magnesium stearate. % by weight
with respect to the total
weight of the mixture M
Results
Table 2 shows the descriptive analysis of the viscosity measurements (in
mPa.s. at 37 C) before and after
incubation (Measurements A and B) and represented in figure 1 - with a
histogram chart - are the average
viscosity values (ETA, average viscosity values at 37 C) indicated in table 2.
Table 3 shows the statistical analysis of the differences; the variance
analysis was conducted using the
Kruskal-Wallis test for repeated measurements and using the Dunnet test for
post-hoc analysis (significant
values, P < 0.05): the differences were significant between pre- and post-
treatment, while they are not
significant between the various compositions of post-treatment of N-
acetylcysteine (Composition 1-4).
SagneB SaineA NAC 718 NAC71 A NAC71+0A8 NAC71 +114A NAC 75+1_8 NAC75+LA
NAC8O+LB NAC8O+LA
Value number 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Minimum 4746 5530 4712 1905 4712 1905 4696
2136 4598 1789
Percentile of 25% 5634 6246 5756 2144 5756 2144 5965
2613 6487 1905
Median 5969 7231 7434 2395 7838 2709 7103
3037 7558 2163
'Percentile at 75% 6724 8647 8806 3076 9107 3621 8796
4375 8356 2733
t Maximum 9810 9826 9680 3232 9680 4136 9387 5322
8562 4506
Average 6279 7402 7354 2555 7477 2833 7158
3342 7217 2428
Standard Deviation 1406 1401 1700 $01,2 1831 799,7 1529
1052 1237 823,5
Standard error 444,6 443,1 537,7 168,5 578,9 252,9 483,4
332,7 391 260,4
Below 95%. CI of the average . 5273 6399 6138 2197 6167 2261
6065 2590 6132 1839
Above 95% CI of the average ' 7284 8404 8571 2914 8786 3405
8252 4095 8101 3018
Total 62788 74015 73544 25554 74767 28328
71582 33424 72167 24285
Table 2
Multiple comparative Dunn test Difference Significance of the median
variation (P>0.05)
Saline A vs NAC71 A 55.40 ***
Saline A vs NAC71 A + LM 52.90 **
Saline A vs NAC75 A + L 46.80 *
Saline A vs NAC80 A + L 60.10 ***
NAC71 B vs NAC71 A 53.35 **
NAC71 B + LM vs NAC71 A + LM 52.45 **
NAC75 B + L vs NAC75 A + L 42.30 not significant
NAC80 B + L vs NAC80 A + L 57.2 ***
Table 3. *significant; ** more significant; *** even more significant.
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Conclusions
The obtained results (table 2, table 3 and figure 1) show that the
Compositions 1-4 according to the
invention comprising N-acetylcysteine alone or combined with lactose and/or
magnesium stearate in
powder form for inhalation by means of oral aspiration are effective at
reducing the viscosity of the
bronchial mucus coming from patients suffering from cystic fibrosis.
Thus, the compositions of the invention are greatly effective in the treatment
of bronchial mucus
hypersecretion in the various diseases of the respiratory system.
EXPERIMENTAL PART (II)
The viscosity of the mucus coming from patients according to the conditions
and methods described in the
Experimental Part (I), was measured with the aim of the in vitro evaluation of
the compositions according
to the present invention (Composition 5-12 having the compositions indicated
in table 4).
Composition
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
NAC 5 10 20 5 10 20 / 80 5 10 20
HA 75 70 60 91 86 76 80 / / / /
L 20 20 20 / / / 20 20 / / /
M / / / 4 4 4 / / / / /
Table 4: NAC N-acetylcysteine; HA: hyaluronic acid; L lactose; M magnesium
stearate; % by weight with
respect to the total weight of the mixture M.
Results
Table 5a and table 5b show the descriptive analysis of the viscosity
measurements (in mPa.s. at 37 C)
before and after incubation (Measurements A and B) of Compositions 5-12 of
table 4, and represented in
figure 2 - with a histogram chart - are the average viscosity values (ETA,
average viscosity values at 37 C)
of Compositions 5-15, of table 4, indicated in table 6 for Compositions 5-12.
Table 6 shows the statistical analysis of the differences for Compositions 5-
12; the variance analysis was
conducted using the Kruskal-Wallis test for repeated measurements and using
the Dunnet test for post-
hoc analysis (significant values, P < 0.05): the differences are significant
from a statistical standpoint
between pre- and post-treatment for a 10% and 20 % concentration of NAC used.
(Figure 2)
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Saline 9 SaW A NAC 5% iA 75%8 NAC 5% LA 75% A NAc. Ifli's 1A70% il NAC 10% IA
V% A NAC 2. a% /A RI 8 NAC 20% IA 60, A
Value number 11 - 11 11 1 44 1 . 11 11 11
4 4 11
?Minimum 5818 6321 5765 3758 5895 3554 6854
2.c65
!Percenti1e of 2_5% 6785 6525 6528 4570 6846 3957 7598
3627
.1Median 7524 7674 8854 5428 . 1460 4258 7065
3827
]Percentile at 75% 1871 8423 8623 6354 8524 4625
8733 4232
:Maximum 8052 8954 8757 8842 8750 5321 8158
4425
Average 7457 7639 7270 5351 1480 4312 8194
3782
!S000dard Devialion 1 8675 914.6 1085 9985 5147 4681
683.1 463.5
;cmdard-e¨ . 1 2011 275,0 3284 297.4 281.8 1412 1991
131
Below 95% CI of the average .1$74 7024: 8547 4728 8852 4087
7861 1471
Above 95% CI of the average 8040 822 8010 8064 8108 4656
8552 4003
Total 82025 84024 80064 59301 82270 48201 89188
41601
Table 5a
,91%:34 .8 RA.:-....s% A 611 q A 6i8: 16% ;AM it a !A:55 IA 86% ?,% A MK 2.3:6
0,76% Mg 6 4X Zi% lA765's540, A mi 275', 5 0,4%4i. MA NM: 52 I 5
. Value =miler . 11 11. 11 11 11 11 it 11. 16
10
?Minimum . 6E1 0330 6438 3785 6816 35131 OA
5231 et 1786
Percentile of 25% 742.3 1156 5260 3655 7555 36E 6028
625 OE 1655
.Median 78E 436 760 1Z8 7E2 37E. 7238 6258
755.8 2163
,Percentile at 75% 6735 Eri 7979 4E8 8636 412/ 75.23
6585 831-Z 7733.
Maximum 69E 5328 EC 4857 8857 4255 6426 7285
E62 06
Average 7812 453 743 f;271 ER ES 2358 6258 7217
2428
i Standard Deviation 7349 7319 El 3705 E.3.2 217.2
531.1 62.4 1237 cu..
Standard error . 2t9 2211 289.9 1144 686.6. 71.53
160.1 164.6 301 260.4-
Below 95% CI of die average RE 456 ME 4016 7671 37E 2312
5045 ES. EU
!Above 95% CI of the average gE E385 IV 4525 Er, 44 7725
5671 8101 3310
'Total Mg 33715 8E14 45915 895242 42784 0151
66513 72181 24283
Table 5b
Multiple comparative Dunn test Difference Significance
of the median
variation (P>0.05)
Saline B vs Saline A -6.364 ns
Saline B vs NAC 5% IA 75% B 6.636 ns
Saline B vs NAC 5% IA 75% A 66.18 ns
Saline B vs NAC 10% IA70% B -2.136 ns
Saline B vs NAC 10% IA 70% A 87.82 *
Saline B vs NAC 20% IA 60% B -28.09 ns
Saline B vs NAC 20% IA 60% A 107.5 **
Saline B vs NAC 5% IA 91% mg B -18.45 ns
Saline B vs NAC 5% IA 91% mg A 77.18 ns
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Saline B vs NAC 10% IA 86% Mg B -1.273 ns
Saline B vs NAC 10% IA 86% Mg A 91.09 *
Saline B vs NAC 20% IA 76% Mg B -26.68 ns
Saline B vs NAC 20% IA 76% Mg A 107.8 **
Saline B vs IA 80%+L 20% B 6.182 ns
Saline B vs IA 80%+L 20% A 45.14 ns
Saline B vs NAC 80 + L B 5.959 ns
Saline B vs NAC 80 + L A 124.2 ***
Saline A vs NAC 5% IA 75% B 13.00 ns
Saline A vs NAC 5% IA 75% A 72.55 ns
Saline A vs NAC 10% IA70% B 4.227 ns
Saline A vs NAC 10% IA 70`)/0 A 94.18 *
Saline A vs NAC 20% IA 60% B -21.73 ns
Saline A vs NAC 20% IA 60% A 113.9 ***
Saline A vs NAC 5% IA 91% Mg B -12.09 ns
Saline A vs NAC 5% IA 91% Mg A 83.55 ns
Saline A vs NAC 10% IA 86% Mg B 5.091 ns
Saline A vs NAC 10% IA 86% Mg A 97.45 **
Saline A vs NAC 20% IA 76% Mg B -20.32 ns
Saline A vs NAC 20% IA 76% Mg A 114.2 ***
Saline A vs IA 80%+L 20% B 12.55 ns
Saline A vs IA 80%+L 20% A 51.50 ns
Saline A vs NAC 80 + L B 12.32 ns
Saline A vs NAC 80 + LA 130.6 ***
NAC 5% IA 75%6 vs NAC 5% IA 75% A 59.55 ns
NAC 5% IA 75%6 vs NAC 10% IA70% B -8.773 ns
NAC 5% IA 75%6 vs NAC 10% IA 70% A 81.18 ns
NAC 5% IA 75%6 vs NAC 20% IA 60% B -34.73 ns
NAC 5% IA 75%6 vs NAC 20% IA 60% A 100.9 **
NAC 5% IA 75%6 vs NAC 5 % IA 91% Mg B -25.09 ns
NAC 5% IA 75%6 vs NAC 5% IA 91% Mg A 70.55 ns
NAC 5% IA 75%6 vs NAC 10% IA 86% Mg B -7.909 ns
NAC 5% IA 75%6 vs NAC 10% IA 86% Mg A 84.45 ns
NAC 5% IA 75%6 vs NAC 20% IA 76% Mg B -33.32 ns
NAC 5% IA 75%6 vs NAC 20% IA 76% Mg A 101.2 **
NAC 5% IA 75%6 vs IA 80%+L 20% B -0.4545 ns
NAC 5% IA 75%6 vs IA 80%+L 20% A 38.50 ns
NAC 5% IA 75%6 vs NAC 80% + L20% B -0.6773 ns
NAC 5% IA 75%6 vs NAC 80% + L20% A 117.6 ***
NAC 5% IA 75% A vs NAC 10% IA70% B -68.32 ns
NAC 5% IA 75% A vs NAC 10% IA 70% A 21.64 ns
NAC 5% IA 75% A vs NAC 20% IA 60% B -94.27 *
NAC 5% IA 75% A vs NAC 20% IA 60% A 41.36 ns
NAC 5% IA 75% A vs NAC 5% IA 91% mg B -84.64 ns
NAC 5% IA 75% A vs NAC 5% IA 91% mg A 11.00 ns
NAC 5% IA 75% A vs NAC 10% IA 86% Mg B -67.45 ns
NAC 5% IA 75% A vs NAC 10% IA 86% Mg A 24.91 ns
NAC 5% IA 75% A vs NAC 20% IA 76% Mg B -92.86 *
NAC 5% IA 75% A vs NAC 20% IA 76% Mg A 41.64 ns
NAC 5% IA 75% A vs IA 80%+L 20% B -60.00 ns
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NAC 5% IA 75% A vs IA 80%+L 20% A -21.05 ns
NAC 5% IA 75% A vs NAC 80% + L20% B -60.22 ns
NAC 5% IA 75% A vs NAC 80% + L20% A 58.03 ns
NAC 10% 1A70`)/0 B vs NAC 10% IA 70% A 89.95 *
NAC 10% 1A70`)/0 B vs NAC 20% IA 60% B -25.95 ns
NAC 10% 1A70`)/0 B vs NAC 20% IA 60% A 109.7 ***
NAC 10% 1A70`)/0 B vs NAC 5% IA 91% mg B -16.32 ns
NAC 10% 1A70`)/0 B vs NAC 5% IA 91% mg A 79.32 ns
NAC 10% 1A70`)/0 B vs NAC 10% IA 86% Mg B 0.8636 ns
NAC 10% 1A70`)/0 B vs NAC 10% IA 86% Mg A 93.23 *
NAC 10% 1A70`)/0 B vs NAC 20% IA 76% Mg B -24.55 ns
NAC 10% 1A70`)/0 B vs NAC 20% IA 76% Mg A 110.0 ***
NAC 10% 1A70`)/0 B vs IA 80%+L 20% B 8.318 ns
NAC 10% 1A70`)/0 B vs IA 80%+L 20% A 47.27 ns
NAC 10% 1A70`)/0 B vs NAC 80% + L20% B 8.095 ns
NAC 10% 1A70`)/0 B vs NAC 80% + L20% A 126.3 ***
NAC 10% IA 70% A vs NAC 20% IA 60% B -115.9 ***
NAC 10% IA 70% A vs NAC 20% IA 60% A 19.73 ns
NAC 10% IA 70% A vs NAC 5 % IA 91% mg B -106.3 **
NAC 10% IA 70% A vs NAC 5% IA 91% mg A -10.64 ns
NAC 10% IA 70% A vs NAC 10% IA 86% Mg B -89.09 *
NAC 10% IA 70% A vs NAC 10% IA 86% Mg A 3.273 ns
NAC 10% IA 70% A vs NAC 20% IA 76% Mg B -114.5 ***
NAC 10% IA 70% A vs NAC 20% IA 76% Mg A 20.00 ns
NAC 10% IA 70% A vs IA 80%+L 20% B -81.64 ns
NAC 10% IA 70% A vs IA 80%+L 20% A -42.68 ns
NAC 10% IA 70% A vs NAC 80% + L20% B -81.86 ns
NAC 10% IA 70% A vs NAC 80% + L 20% A 36.39 ns
NAC 20% IA 60% B vs NAC 20% IA 60% A 135.6 ***
NAC 20% IA 60% B vs NAC 5 % IA 91% mg B 9.636 ns
NAC 20% IA 60% B vs NAC 5% IA 91% mg A 105.3 **
NAC 20% IA 60% B vs NAC 10% IA 86% Mg B 26.82 ns
NAC 20% IA 60% B vs NAC 10% IA 86% Mg A 119.2 ***
NAC 20% IA 60% B vs NAC 20% IA 76% Mg B 1.409 ns
NAC 20% IA 60% B vs NAC 20% IA 76% Mg A 135.9 ***
NAC 20% IA 60% B vs IA 80%+L 20% B 34.27 ns
NAC 20% IA 60% B vs IA 80%+L 20% A 73.23 ns
NAC 20% IA 60% B vs NAC 80% + L20% B 34.05 ns
NAC 20% IA 60% B vs NAC 80% + L20% A 152.3 ***
NAC 20'Y IA 60% A vs NAC 5% IA 91% mg B -126.0 ***
NAC 20% IA 60% A vs NAC 5% IA 91% mg A -30.36 ns
NAC 20% IA 60% A vs NAC 10% IA 86% Mg B -108.8 **
NAC 20% IA 60% A vs NAC 10% IA 86% Mg A -16.45 ns
NAC 20% IA 60% A vs NAC 20% IA 76% Mg B -134.2 ***
NAC 20% IA 60% A vs NAC 20% IA 76% Mg A 0.2727 ns
NAC 20% IA 60% A vs IA 80%+L 20% B -101.4 **
NAC 20% IA 60% A vs IA 80%+L 20% A -62.41 ns
NAC 20% IA 60% A vs NAC 80% + L20% B -101.6 **
NAC 20% IA 60% A vs NAC 80% + L20% A 16.66 ns
NAC 5% IA 91% mg B vs NAC 5% IA 91% mg A 95.64 *
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NAC 5% IA 91% mg B vs NAC 10% IA 86% Mg B 17.18 ns
NAC 5% IA 91% mg B vs NAC 10% IA 86% Mg A 109.5 ***
NAC 5% IA 91% mg B vs NAC 20% IA 76% Mg B -8.227 ns
NAC 5 % IA 91% mg B vs NAC 20% IA 76% Mg A 126.3 ***
NAC 5 % IA 91% mg B vs IA 80%+L 20% B 24.64 ns
NAC 5 % IA 91% mg B vs IA 80%+L 20% A 63.59 ns
NAC 5% IA 91% mg B vs NAC 80% + L20% B 24.41 ns
NAC 5 % IA 91% mg B vs NAC 80% + L20% A 142.7 ***
NAC 5% IA 91% mg A vs NAC 10% IA 86% Mg B -78.45 ns
NAC 5'Y IA 91% mg A vs NAC 10`)/0 IA 86'Y Mg A 13.91 ns
NAC 5% IA 91% mg A vs NAC 20% IA 76% Mg B -103.9 **
NAC 5% IA 91% mg A vs NAC 20% IA 76% Mg A 30.64 ns
NAC 5% IA 91% mg A vs IA 80%+L 20% B -71.00 ns
NAC 5% IA 91% mg A vs IA 80%+L 20% A -32.05 ns
NAC 5% IA 91% mg A vs NAC 80% + L20% B -71.22 ns
NAC 5% IA 91% mg A vs NAC 80% + L20% A 47.03 ns
NAC 10% IA 86% Mg B vs NAC 10% IA 86% Mg
A 92.36
NAC 10% IA 86% Mg B vs NAC 20% IA 76% Mg
-25.41 ns
NAC 10% IA 86% Mg B vs NAC 20% IA 76% Mg
A 109.1 ***
NAC 10% IA 86% Mg B vs IA 80%+L 20% B 7.455 ns
NAC 10% IA 86% Mg B vs IA 80%+L 20% A 46.41 ns
NAC 10% IA 86% Mg B vs NAC 80% + L 20% B 7.232 ns
NAC 10% IA 86% Mg B vs NAC 80% + L20% A 125.5 ***
NAC 10% IA 86% Mg A vs NAC 20% IA 76% Mg
-117.8 ***
NAC 10% IA 86% Mg A vs NAC 20% IA 76% Mg
A 16.73 ns
NAC 10% IA 86% Mg A vs IA 80%+L 20% B -84.91 ns
NAC 10% IA 86% Mg A vs IA 80%+L 20% A -45.95 ns
NAC 10% IA 86% Mg A vs NAC 80% + L20% B -85.13 ns
NAC 10% IA 86% Mg A vs NAC 80% + L20% A 33.12 ns
NAC 20% IA 76% Mg B vs NAC 20% IA 76% Mg
A 134.5 ***
NAC 20% IA 76% Mg B vs IA 80%+L 20% B 32.86 ns
NAC 20% IA 76% Mg B vs IA 80%+L 20% A 71.82 ns
NAC 20% IA 76% Mg B vs NAC 80% + L20% B 32.64 ns
NAC 20% IA 76% Mg B vs NAC 80% + L 20% A 150.9 ***
NAC 20% IA 76% Mg A vs IA 80%+L 20% B -101.6 **
NAC 20% IA 76% Mg A vs IA 80%+L 20% A -62.68 ns
NAC 20% IA 76% Mg A vs NAC 80% + L20% B -101.9 **
NAC 20% IA 76% Mg A vs NAC 80% + L20% A 16.39 ns
IA 80%+L 20% B vs IA 80%+L 20% A 38.95 ns
IA 80%+L 20% B vs NAC 80% + L20% B -0.2227 ns
IA 80%+L 20% B vs NAC 80% + L20% A 118.0 ***
IA 80%+L 20% A vs NAC 80% + L20% B -39.18 ns
IA 80%+L 20% A vs NAC 80% + L20% A 79.07 ns
NAC 80% + L20% B vs NAC 80% + L20% A 118.3 ***
Table 6 ns: not significant, *significant; ** more significant; ***even more
significant.
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Conclusions
The obtained results show that both acetylcysteine (NAC) alone and in
association with hyaluronic acid
(HA) revealed to be effective at reducing the viscosity of bronchial mucus.
NAC breaks the disulphide
bonds of the glycoprotein agglomerates by chemically breaking the glycoprotein
structures into less
viscous components.
At low concentrations of NAC there are no significant effects, for example
Composition 5 comprising 5%
by weight of NAC. However, the addition of HA was showed increase the effect
of NAC, hence
compositions comprising NAC at 10% or 20% are effective.
Thus, a medical device that provides NAC and HA in form of dry powder for
inhalation by means of oral
aspiration can be very useful in the treatment of bronchial hypersecretion in
various respiratory diseases.
